'The Dreadful' review: Turner and Harington reunite in a flawed Gothic horror

Sophie Turner and Kit Harington reunite seven years after Game of Thrones in Natasha Kermani's Gothic horror The Dreadful. Turner plays Anne, who lives with her mother-in-law Morwen (Marcia Gay Harden) as they wait for the return of Anne's husband Seamus; their lives are upended when Seamus' childhood friend Jago (Harington) returns with devastating news.

The film leans heavily on Gothic imagery, religious guilt and blood, but it struggles to stick the landing in the third act. Early on, the movie earns its atmosphere: Julia Swain's almost dream-like cinematography and Jamal Green's score create an eerie tone, and Harden anchors the cast with a sharp, complex performance.

Turner offers a strong point of view as Anne, and Turner and Harington share convincing nonverbal chemistry in quieter moments. The cast contends with uneven old English accents, however, which can make dialogue distracting.

sophie turner, kit harington, the dreadful, gothic horror, natasha kermani, harden, jamal green, gothic imagery, religious guilt, got